Razor protecting liquid and method of using same



United States Patent 3,150,921 RAZOR PRGTECTING LIQUID AND METHOD 9FUSING SAD E Allan J. Clark, 2969 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, Calif.,

and Fred 0. Martin, Lynwood, Calif. (6512 Brookside Houston, Tex.) Nobrawing. Filed June 20, 1961, Sci. No. 118,278 3 Claims. (Cl. 212.5)

The present invention relates generally to the field of shavingaccessories, and more particularly to a liquid that will protect andprevent deterioration of the cutting edge of a razor after use thereof,and a method of using said liquid to maintain the cutting edge of arazor indefinitely in the same condition it is in after completion of ashaving operation.

It is a common experience, particularly when steel safety razor bladesare used, to obtain a smooth and comfortable shave the first time with ablade, yet a short time later find that the same blade is dull and allbut impossible to use. This deterioration of the cutting edge of a razorblade is not only rapid, but appears to take place irrespective ofWhether the blade is merely rinsed after being used or rinsed andcarefully dried.

With modern manufacturing techniques it is possible to manufacture razorblades having exceedingly keen cutting edges, with these blades in themain, being of uniformly high quality. Normally present-day safety razorblades are each covered with a fine film of oil which is impervious tooxygen, individually wrapped in cellophane or the like, and packaged forsale out of contact with the ambient atmosphere. As a'result of thispackaging thereof, each new blade when first used is in substantiallythe same physical condition as when manufactured.

The cutting edge of a safety razor blade when first used constitutes aline of microscopic width that is the apex of two oppositely disposedelongate tapered surfaces. That portion of the blade adjacent thecutting edge is extremely thin, but due to the high quality of steelused in the blades, has substantial strength and resistance to abrasion.When the cutting edge of a used razor blade is examined under amicroscope immediately after use, it will be seen to have striationsformed therein and portions thereof are bent, but these changes incharacter of the cutting edge are so small the cutting action thereofwill not appreciably change.

However, the physical condition of the cutting edge of a razorimmediately after the first use thereof and the condition of the cuttingedge of the same blade a day later are not one and the same. Examinationof the same blade 21 day later will show that the original microscopicstriations and bent portions are not the only imperfections in thecutting edge and the cutting surfaces adjacent thereto, but the cuttingsurfaces and edge of the blade have changed to have an irregular, jaggedappearance caused by corrosion which has occurred in the metal definingsame.

The reason for this relatively rapid change in the exterior surface ofthe metal defining the blade cutting surfaces and edge is that after thefirst shave this metal has been subjected to the alkaline action of theshaving cream, and even though the blade is carefully dried thereafter,tiny portions of this alkaline solution remain in the striations andjagged portions of the blade. The blade is then exposed to theatmosphere, and even though carefully wiped, a microscopic film ofmoisture remains that covers the entire surface thereof. After firstuse, the cutting edge and the cutting surfaces of the blade are exposedto the ambient atmosphere, but in addition,

those portions of the cutting edge and surface that are jagged or havestriations formed therein are also subjected to the action of thealkaline material remaining therein after the blade is dried.Accordingly, the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of the blade aresubjected to two different agents, the oxygen in the ambient atmosphereand the alkaline residue left in the striations and jagged portions.

After exposure to the ambient atmosphere, the surface portions of thecutting edge and cutting surfaces free of alkaline material will have athin film of oxide formed thereover. The surface portions of the cuttingedge and cutting surfaces under the particles of alkaline solutionadhering thereto are free from this direct attack by oxygen, but are notfree from further corrosion.

Thus, innumerable and adjacent small surface areas of the cutting edgeand cutting surfaces of the used blade are covered with a fine film ofoxide with a large number of surfaces adjacent thereto being deficientof such an oxide film, whereby these surface portions of differentphysical characteristics are at different electrical potentials and anelectric current flows therebetween. The fiow of electrical currentbetween these areas of different surface characteristics results incorrosion of the metal defining the same, which corrosion then takesplace below the surfaces of the particles of alkaline solution remainingon the cutting edge and cutting surfaces, as well as at the junctionlines between these areas of different surface characteristics. Thiselectrolytic corrosion may, and usually does proceed to the degree thatthe cutting edge 3 and the cutting surfaces are severely pitted, withstriations and other imperfections already therein being greatlyenlarged by this electrolytic action. Due to this electrolytic action,the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of a used blade may, within a daystime, become so severely pitted and roughened as a result thereof as torender the blade incapable of being used to obtain a smooth shave.

Although it has been specified that the above described action occursbetween the first use of the blade and the re-use thereof, it will beapparent that this is an action which occurs to even a greater degreeafter the first re-use of a blade. By means of the present invention theabovedescribed electrolytic action or corrosion is substantiallyeliminated, and the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of a safety razorblade will remain in virtually the same physical condition as when thelast shaving operation was completed for a prolonged period of time.

The invention constitutes a liquid in which a safety razor blade istotally immersed immediately after use, but preferably after foreignmaterials such as soap, whiskers, and the like have been rinsedtherefrom.

One liquid composition that has been found quite satisfactory inprotecting the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of a razor bladebetween uses of the blade is as follows, with the percentages givenbeing by weight:

Percent Mineral oil with a density of between 0.83-

0.960 99.902 Oil soluble green dye 00.0001 Butylatedhydroxytoluene-di-tert-para-cresol 00.001 Perfume 00.087

The mineral oil used in the liquid composition is liquid paraifin whichis a colorless oil liquid, practically tasteless and odorless, even whenwarm. A U.S.P. grade of mineral oil is preferably used.

Another liquid composition that is also satisfactory in protecting thecutting edge and surfaces of safety razor blades is as follows, with thepercentages being given by Weight:

When a razor blade is immersed in either of the above two liquidcompositions, the surface tension of any moisture or water which mayadhere to the blade causes the water to coalesce into tiny droplets,which even though they adhere to the blade, have a minimum of surfacecontact therewith. As a result of this action, the cutting surfaces andcutting edge or" the blade are in substantially contact with one of saidliquid compositions. Butylated hydroxytoluene di-tert-para-cresol iscommercially available under the trademark Dalpac-FG manufactured by theHercules Powder Company of Wilming: ton, Delaware, which compound hasanti-oxidant properties. Dalpac-FG is a White crystalline material thatis soluble in mineral oil, petroleum ether, isopentane, benzone, andtoluene, as well as in menthanol, ethanol, isopropanol, andmethyLethyl-ketone. The butylated hydroxytoluene di-tert-p ra-cresol isdissolved in the mineral oil, and of course, as soon as the moisture isremoved from the cutting edge and surfaces of the razor blade, thedissolved anti-oxidant materialis in contact therewith Whereby furtheroxidation is prevented. Obviously, the dye and perfume do not provideany action in restraining corrosion of the razor blade when immersed ineither the first or vthe second of the two above described liquidcompositions, but simply make these materials more attractive to use.

The orthobenzyl-para-chlorophenol used in the second of the liquidcompositions set forth hereinabove is a germicide, and even in lowconcentrations is effective in destroying bacteria and fungi. Theortho-benzyl-parachlorophenol maintains the second liquid compositionfree of objectionable odors which might arise from severed 4 whiskers orother organic material that could adhere to a razor blade when immersedin the liquid solution. Ortho-benzyl-para-chlorophenol is commerciallyavailable and is sold by the Monsanto Chemical Company under thetrademark Santophen 1.

Although the inventions herein shown and described are fully capable ofachieving the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to beunderstood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferredembodiments of the invention and we do not mean to limit ourselves tothe details previously disclosed and described, other than as defined inthe appended claims.

We claim:

1. The process of immersing a steel cutting blade in mineral oil whereinbutylated hydroxytoluene-di-tert-paracresol is dissolved to preventdeterioration of the cutting edge thereof between uses of saidblade.

2. The process as defined in claim 1 in which the percentage by weightof said butylated hydroxytoluene-ditert-para-cresol is no great r than00.1% of the total Weight of said butylatedhydroxytoluene-di-tert-paracresol and mineral oil.

3. The process as defined in claim 1 in which said mineral oil hasortho-benzyl-para-chlorophenol dissolved therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,302,708 Musher Nov. 24, 1942 2,428,745 Stillson Oct. 7, 1947 2,443,579Fuller et a1. June 15, 1948 2,471,887 Nelson May 31, 1949 2,667,456Young Jan. 26, 1954 2,981,628 Hall Apr. 24, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Ind.Eng. Chem, vol. 42, 1950, pp. 675-685.

American Meat Institute Foundation, Bulletin No. 18, Tune 1954, 939 E.57th St, Chicago, Ill.

Applegate: Cathodic Protection, McGraw-Hill Book Co., N.Y., 1960, page19.

1. THE PROCESS OF IMMERSING A STEEL CUTTING BLADE IN MINERAL OIL WHEREINBUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE-DI-TERT-PARACRESOL IS DISSOLVED TO PREVENTDETERIORATION OF THE CUTTING EDGE THEREOF BETWEEN USES OF SAID BLADE.